RALEIGH — As part of the N.C. Department of
Transportation’s ongoing commitment to improving aviation in North Carolina,
the N.C. Division of Aviation awarded $5.46 million in federal block grant
funds to Concord Regional Airport for a capital improvement project.

The
funds will be used to strengthen the existing taxiway and aircraft parking
apron.As larger and heavier aircraft
use the airport, the increased pavement strength will be needed to support the extra
weight.

“Concord
Regional Airport is one of our state’s busiest general aviation facilities,”
said Division of Aviation Director Richard Walls. “The project will allow the
airport to further expand its operations and better serve this region.”

These
funds came from a $22.8 million Federal Aviation Administration block grant
that the Division of Aviation received at the end of September and will
administer. The Division will be awarding multiple sub grants through the
program to general aviation airports across the state for a variety of capital
improvement projects.

Concord
Regional Airport has an approximate $110 million a year total impact on North
Carolina and supports more than 860 jobs, based on a 2006 statewide economic
impact study.

Since Gov. Bev Perdue took office
in 2009, the Division of Aviation has awarded more than $125 million in funding
to state airports. These funds enable airports across the state to provide
improvements that support economic development and job opportunities.